Following fast on January's heels is her evil step-sister February. She especially hates those who claim to love winter. You know the kind - they love the snow, the mittens, the hot chocolate, blah-blah-blah-blah-blah. Well, I'm one of those annoying people.
Not like the crybabies who get all out-of-sorts about how long the winter is, how they hate the cold, how they're ready for Spring, yadda yadda yadda. The constant kvetching is tiresome and exhausting. Complaining doesn't make it any better, but rather only drives you deeper into a frigid frame of mind.
But all joking aside, let me extol the virtues of winter for just a moment.
“February is the bridge that connects the promises of the past year with the hopes of the year ahead.” – David LaMotte
Winter affords me the ability to watch, up close, the birds that flock to my window feeder. All puffed up to keep themselves warm, cardinals, finches, wrens, bluejays, tufted titmice and sparrows take turns eating their share of seeds.
The colors of the birds are highly visible, like the bright red cardinal perched in a barren tree surveying his surroundings. But equally stunning are the birds of a quieter beauty, like the female cardinal, greyed tufted tit-mice, and bluebirds dressed in shades of powder blue.
And what about these?
fuzzy socks
the smell of fresh, crisp air
no bugs
building a snowman
catching snowflakes on your tongue
roaring fires
the quiet after a snowstorm
Hallmark movie binge-a-thons
the slower pace of life
no bugs
snuggly reading time
no yardwork
ordering bulbs for planting in the Spring
being thankful for all you have
and did I mention no bugs?
These two sentiments were recently shared with me:
"If it's going to be cold, it should at least be beautiful."
"Those who can't find joy in the snow
will have less joy in their life
but just as much snow."
So put on your puffy coat, your boots, scarf and mittens, and tell mean old Mother Nature to take a hike - she may not listen to you, but that's okay.
Image: Untitled, clay monoprint by Mitch Lyons
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